Pliable metal closure



Oct. 13, 1942. .1. w. THOMAS 2,298,777

PLIABLE METAL CLOSURE 1 Filed March 18, 1941 INVENTOR. JZ HNW THO/4A6.

ATTORNE).

Patented on. 13. 1942 1 UNITED" STATES, PATENT eases-1':

" OFFICE smear: METAL oLosunr:

John W. Thomas, New Kensington, Pa.,assignor toAlumln um Company of America, Pittsburgh,

vania To... a corporation of Pennsyl Application ms 1:, 1941. Serial No. 383,035

, having a relatively wide relieved portion orgroove Claims.

This invention pertains container closures, particularly to closures'drawn from pliable metal such as aluminum. The invention also relates to combinations of pliable metal closures with concommodate the closures to particular containerfinishes. The shaped or knurled skirt closures have been produced in efforts to take up excess metal resulting from the closure drawing operation, to provide gripping surfaces, or to provide decorative appearances. These prior practices and the closures on which they were employed are disclaimed from the present invention insofar as they have been separably employed.

Containers are now being employed which re-' quire the use of deep skirted closures. In particular, containers are employed which require a closure having a skirt-of both stepped and reinforced construction. The present invention combines these desirable features of construction in a closure having upper and lower frusto' conical skirt portions joined by a knurled midportion, the closure preferably being stepped at the knurled portion as will be described.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cup-like, pliable metal closure with a reinforced skirt, particularly with a skirt having a reinforced mid-section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drawn, cup-like, pliable metal closure with a skirt formed of parallel frusto-conical portions. Particularly, it is an object toprovide a stepped closure skirt formed of parallel frusto-conical portions with a reinforced midportion joining the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deep-skirted closure suitable for a container which has a relatively wide relieved portion or groove in the outside finish thereof. It is a particular object to provide a closure for such a container which is adapted to be reformed on upper and lower engaging surfaces of the container and which is self-supporting opposite a relatively wide groove therebetween.

A further object is to provide a novel combination of closure and container wherein a closure midway between closure engaging surfaces thereon. a

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be observed upon reading the following description with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a container closure conforming to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the closure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of the orifice of a container to which a closure may be applied;

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of the orifice of a container to which a closure has been loosely applied; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of the orifice of a container on which a closure has been reformed.

The closure of the present invention is preferably a drawn, cup-like metal closure made from aluminum of about 0.003 inch in thickness. This material is relatively thin, pliable, and easily deformed. I It has strength characteristics adequknurled mid-section lie in approximately the same surface of revolution as the lower frustoconical portion. By forming the closure in this manner, upper and lower closure retaining impressions may be made in the skirt of the closure at the upper and lower frusto-conical portions, without distortion of the mid-section. The midsection will have been strengthened and adapted to retain its shape by reason of the knurling imparted thereto.

This closure is particlarly adapted to the sealing of containers provided with upper and lower engaging surfaces on the side wall thereof which are separated by a wide groove or relieved portion where the closure must be relatively rigid and self-supporting. The preferred form of closure and the container for which it is best adapted to be used will now be described.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the closure i is cup-like in form, such as may be drawn.

having a reinforced skirt'is applied to a container 55 from a pliable m tal blank in a suit le d press.

It has the usual top panel, to which the reference numeral I is directed. Any desired identifying embossing may be formed in the top panel, but for simplicity of illustration no such embossing is shown in the drawing. The closure I has an upper frusto-conical skirt portion 3 Joined to the top panel by a fillet 2. Be w the upper skirt portion 3 there is provided a urled mid-portion 4, connecting the upper skirt portion to a lower frusto-conical skirt portion 5. The upper and lower frusto-conical skirt portions 3 and lie in concentric surfaces of revolution. The knurled mid-portion 4 has alternate roots and crests vertically aligned; and it joins the skirt portions 3 and 5 in such manner that the roots of the knurled mid-portion 4 lie substantially in the surface of revolution defined by the upper frustoconical skirt portion 3, and the crests lie substantially in the surface of revolution defined by the lower frusto-conic'al skirt portion 5. The particular purpose of this construction appears hereinabove.

The container for use with which the closure I is particularly adapted is shown in Fig. 3. The container III has the usual top surface I I provided with an upper side surface I2 on the outside lip thereof. The upper surface I2 may be described as a frusto-conical portion of the closure engaging surface of the container. In the upper surface I2, there is provided a groove It interrupted by lugs I4. The groove and lugs are provided for securing the closure I by reformation thereinto of the upper portion 3 thereof in the usual manner. Immediately below th upper surface It of the container), there is a wide, deep groove I 6. An annular shoulder I5 is disposed beneath the upper surface I2 and recedent therefrom, forming part of the upper wall of the groove I 6. The purpose of the shoulder I5 and groove I6 are to provide an interruption or air space in the side surface of the container. Since the groove I6 and shoulder I5 form no part of the present invention, it is not necessary to .further discuss their usefulness or purpose.

Immediately below the groove I6 a lower side surface I! is provided on the side finish of the container. The lower surface Il may also be identified as a frusto-conical portion of the closure engaging'surface of the container. It may be coincident with the surfac of revolution defined by the upper surface I2 and is approximately so shown in the drawing; but it may, if desired, define a frusto-conical surface of revolution concentric with that defined by the upper surface I2, parallel or not parallel thereto. The lower surface I! is provided with a plurality of threads I8. The threads I8 are provided for additionally securing the closure by reformation thereover of the lower skirt portion 5 in the usual manner. Immediately below the lower surface I! a suitable annular ledge may be provided, merging preferably into a bead I9 surroundin the neck of the container It.

It will be observed that the container I0 shown in Fig. 3 is provided with an upper closure engagdevices.

The closure I is adapted to be seated loosely on the container It in the manner shown in F18. 4. It willthere be observed that the closure I, before being reformed on the container ll, is disposed so that the upper and lower skirt portions 3 and 5 thereof are opposite the upper and lower surfaces I2 and I1 of the container, having the securing groove I3 and threads I8, respectively. It will be further observed that the knurled midportion 4 of the closure I is disposed opposite the wide groove I6 in the container Ill. The b ttom of the skirt portion 5 preferably reaches or slightly overlaps the ledge at the uppermost portion of the bead I9 so as to provide a completely protective closure for the container III. The stepped skirt construction permits the skirt portion 5 to pass over the threads l8 prior to reformation of the closure.

The closure I is adapted to be reformed onto the container III by the method and apparatus disclosed in my application for Closure reforming method and apparatus," Serial No. 383,936, filed concurrently with this application. A method of sealing or reforming the closure I on the container III consists of pressing the closure I down onto the top of the container Ill and squeezing the upper and lower skirt Portions 3 and 5 in against the upper and lower closure engaging surfaces of the container, without mutilating, breaking, or distorting the closure at its mid-portion opposite the groove I6. In Fig. 5 the closure is shown as it appears when reformed on the container III. A groove 6 will appear in the closure I where it is depressed into the groove I3 of the container. Interrupted portions I will define the positions of the corresponding lugs I4 in the container. Threads 8 will appear in the lower portion of the skirt corresponding to the threads I8 on the container Ill.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel form of closure has been devised for sealing a container having separated closure engaging surfaces. A particularly strong, self-supporting closure has been provided, which has heretofore been unattainable in pliable metal such as has been described above.

Many variations may be made in the practice of this invention and it is therefore to be understood that the invention is to be considered confined only within the reasonable scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pliable metal closure having a skirt formed of upper and lower portions, and an annular band of vertical fiuting, the root portions of which merge with said upper portion and the crest portions of which merge with said lower portion.

2. A pliable metal closure having initially smooth upper and lower skirt portions adapted to be reformed on a container and a pro-corrugated intermediate skirt portion.

3. A pliable metal closure having initially smooth upper and lower skirt portions adapted to be reformed on closure engaging surfaces of a container and a pre-corrugated intermediate skirt portion, the roots of which merge into said upper skirt portion and the crests of which merge into said lower skirt portion.

4. A pliable metal closure adapted to be reformed on a container having upper and lower closure engaging surfaces separated by a wide groove, and having a skirt formed of upper and lower portions Joined by an undulantly formed band portion, the roots of which merge with said upper portion and the crests of which merge with 2,298,177 said lower portion, said band portion being said engaging surfaces with said corrugate formed portion opposite said groove.

6. The combination comprising a container havinga irusto-conicai upper closure engaging lip provided with an annular groove interrupted by vertical ribs, 9. frusto-conical lower closure engaging surface provided with projecting screw threads, and a wide groove separating said lip and said surface; and a pliable metal closure having upper and lower irusto-conical skirt portions, and a corrugate formed mid-portion joining said upper skirt portion at its roots and said lower skirt portion at its crests, said upper skirt portion being reform ed into said groove, aid lower skirt portion being reformed on said threads, and said corrugate formed portion being disposed opposite said groove.

JOHN W. THOMAS. 

